Canada advances to CONCACAF U-17 quarterfinal

With an undefeated group stage complete, Canada's U-17 side will look to continue its momentum in a do-or-die match against Jamaica.

A win against the Caribbean outfit will see the young Canadians into the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup.

Canada put itself in this position by topping Group B in the CONCACAF U-17 Championship in Panama. Last Saturday, the Canucks strolled to a 2-0 victory over Trinidad and Tobago in a match that flattered the dual-island nation. Marco Dominguez-Ramirez and Jordan Hamilton scored for Canada, although the game also featured many squandered chances for head coach Sean Fleming's side.

The Canadians followed the win over T&T up with a 1-1 draw versus Costa Rica on Wednesday night. Even though the young Canucks did not need a win to advance to the next round, they still took the game to the Ticos from the outset, although it would be Costa Rica which opened the scoring on a well-executed counterattack.

Hanson Boakai answered back for Canada in a big way, sending a curling left-footed strike from distance into the top corner of the Costa Rican goal to secure the draw and first place in the group.

As Group B winner, Canada faces Group A runner-up Jamaica in the tournament quarterfinal on Saturday, with the victor of that match claiming one of CONCACAF's four berths in the U-17 World Cup. The tournament will then continue with the semifinal and final rounds later next week.